Blankets for T.O. hands out donations in downtown Toronto

Blankets for T.O. went downtown in December to donate mini-care packages to homeless individuals. While this was an opportunity to help those in need, what was most important was being able to talk to homeless individuals about their daily challenges.

One of the most common challenges faced by homeless individuals is finding a homeless shelter with capacity to accept them. With many of the city’s shelters strained by increasing demand, the ongoing pandemic, and the onset of cold winter temperatures, most shelters are at capacity. Shelters have to make difficult decisions about who can stay.

Another common challenge they faced was difficulty affording transportation. Many need to travel in order to access shelters, medications, city services, food and opportunities.

In the mini-care packages that Blankets for T.O. prepared, we provided

• Warm socks to keep warm during the winter

• Granola bars to boost their caloric intake while on the go

• Tissues to maintain hygiene and keep safe during this pandemic

• Presto cards to pay for trips via public transit

• Blankets to keep them tackle the low temperatures

Are you an individual who wants to join Blankets for T.O. on similar donation distributions in the future? Follow our social media or join as a Blankets for T.O. member to get notifications of when these events will occur!